Even though we are all disappointed in the loss last night to the warriors, there is a lot of good things to take from the 1st half of the season. 1) Our record is 8 games (i believe) better then it was at this time last year and the 2nd half scheduele is more favorable then it was for us last year 2) Aldridge is much more consistent this ear as compared to last year. (the thing I think I like most about his game is that this year he is making a real effort to post up, something he was reluctant to do in the past). BTW, his post up baby jump hook is money (he was really working it on the warriors last night, to bad Maggette was flopping all over the court). 3) Brandon Roy is well Brandon Roy. Just when you think he can not get much better he has proven he can carry us when the team plays like crap. He also is taking the ball to the hole more and getting to the free throw line (minus last night of course). Officials are STARTING to give him some of the superstar calls on a more regular basis. 4) Oden a rookie who once he gets the feel for the game, stops making silly fouls is a load that will be near unstopable. If you look at him now as compared to when he 1st came back from injury he is much more active and involved in the game (Also look at his physique, he has lost a lot of weight). If it wasnt for some poor calls last night and Oden stayed on the court, I think we win that game. Turiaf is a great defender, one of the best big defenders in the league but Oden is much to powerful for him and had a nifty spin move baseline dunk. Folks, he is going to be a difference maker when all is said and done in his career. 5) All of our rookies are contributing and gaining valuable experience. It probably will not pay off as much for us this year but by next year and the year after all of this playing time they are getting now is going to show on the court. I mean Batum was destined for the NBDL but he is a starter. He couldve played every minute in the NBDL and not gained as much experience as he is now. Now for the good, but not so good 6) Outlaw......ugh. Love him when he is on. Can be a scoring machine, but erratic from game to game and if he is not contributing offensively then well it becomes a 4 on 5 game. To easily loses his man on defense. 7) Rudy. Fell in love with his 3 which is good when he is on but when he isnt he is just as bad as Outlaw as far as not offering as much (although he is a much better and more then willing passer). needs to take the ball to the hole more to keep the defenses honest thus opening up his game. We need serious help in these areas (via coaching, trades ect) 7) Perimeter defense. Might very well be what knocks us out of the playoffs or worse keep us from making it to the big show. There are no gurantees this year. We are only 4 games away from not even being in the playoffs and a bad run could takes us from 4th to 9th in a week. Scary to think that but it is true. 8) Frye. What happened to this guy. Worked hard in the off season, coming into camp in the best shape ever, blah, blah blah. He may be a nice guy but I cringe whenever I see him get off the bench. If anyone wants him, move him as fast as you can. I can come up with a lot more things for all categories but everyone feel free to add to it or disagree. I am just overall happy where our team is at and with a minor tweak here or there we could be set for years to come.
I don't disagree with anything said. Though in the Serious Help I would add that the team needs to get a bit nastier. They put up with too much shit without much fight. I hate to put it this way, but we need a bit more Sheed.
We should probably mention the fact that of the nine players in regular rotation right now since Blake went down (13 or 14 games ago), four of them are brand new to the team, all of them rookies. That's 44% of the rotation. I wonder what this team would look like when those players hit their sophomore season and this team gels, assuming no trades are made?
I think about that sometimes. I also think about how few minutes Sergio and Blake and Bayless and Rudy would be getting if Jarrett Jack were here. I think about how LMA wasn't getting a lot of minutes until Zach was traded away. I think that Webster and Blake, when healthy, will take at least 45 minutes per game from someone in those 9 spots. Who do you not play? Assuming Roy (38), LMA (37), Oden/Przy (48) get theirs, that leaves 117 minutes per game for the following: Blake Sergio Bayless Rudy Webster Batum Outlaw Frye Diogu all of whom have proven that they can play AT LEAST regular rotation minutes on an NBA squad. Of those, 4 were lottery picks within the last 4 years. 4 others were 1st round picks who are still under 24. If you're going to play them, great. If not, don't just waste their value.
Sheed? He was a great defensive player but was he really nasty? (other than the refs) I agree with your statement, but I am not sure how you get nastier without fouling. It's a catch 22 situation. Greg for example would love to play more physical, but can he afford to? He gets called for touching people. Same with Bayless. Pryz already does have a nasty streak. Maybe LMA, but I am just fine with his game. So what are we talking here? Sergio and Travis?
